With about two years to go before the 2028 general elections, the alternate electoral commissioners of Puerto Rico’s two major parties have resigned from the State Elections Commission (CEE). Ramón Luis Hernández Espino, alternate commissioner of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), and Félixavier Méndez Soto, alternate commissioner of the New Progressive Party (PNP), confirmed their departures on Friday morning through social media posts, thanking their parties for the opportunity to serve.
Neither party has announced who will fill the vacancies. Méndez Soto submitted a resignation letter dated October 30 addressed to Governor Jenniffer González in her capacity as PNP president, with copies to other party leaders; it takes effect November 15 and gives no reason for stepping down. Hernández Espino told Pablo José Hernández, the PPD president and resident commissioner in Washington, of his decision a few weeks ago, and said he is returning to private practice once the coordination work for the party’s General Assembly was completed.
Both men thanked their parties’ electoral commissioner offices and CEE colleagues, with Hernández Espino calling the commission fundamental to Puerto Rican democracy.